Case study · Hospitality
Holiday Inn, Chester West
A hotel site suffering from large voltage fluctuations that made it unsuitable for standard fixed VO. A staged tracking optimiser with integral power factor correction solved all three problems: voltage, power factor, and consumption.
The site
What we were dealing with.
The Carbon Trust surveyed this Holiday Inn hotel with a view to identifying up to six actions to reduce energy consumption. Among the recommended measures, voltage optimisation and power factor correction were highlighted as beneficial.
During the initial survey and datalogging, it emerged that the site suffered from large voltage swings, making it unsuitable for standard forms of fixed voltage optimisation. A bespoke solution was required.
Volta was the only supplier that could provide a single integrated solution to address all three issues: voltage reduction, voltage stabilisation, and power factor correction.
| Sector | Hospitality |
| Site size | Full-service hotel |
| Operating pattern | Year-round hotel operation, large voltage fluctuations on site |
| Baseline voltage | — V |
| Post-install voltage | 221 V |
| Annual kWh saving | 76,009 kWh |
The install
What we did.
A three-stage VOPs tracking optimiser with integral power factor correction was designed specifically for this site to handle the large voltage fluctuations identified during survey.
The unit stabilises and reduces the incoming voltage to just above 221 V while improving the site's power factor from 0.86 to 0.97, effectively eliminating the reactive-power charge on the bill.
The solution addressed all the specific issues identified during the Carbon Trust's initial energy audit, providing maximum possible energy saving from a single piece of installed equipment.
The result
What we measured.
Annual energy reduction of 76,009 kWh, delivering £5,837 in direct electricity cost savings plus £600 per year from improved power factor (by eliminating the reactive-power charge). Total annual saving: £6,437.
Project cost of £13,349 delivered a payback of 25 months and a CO₂ reduction of 140 tonnes per annum.
Beyond the direct savings, the stabilised voltage supply has reduced equipment failures and associated replacement and maintenance costs. This is a secondary benefit the hotel's operations team noticed within the first year.
Measurement & verification method
Pre-install datalogging to establish baseline consumption. Post-install datalogging and monitoring confirmed stabilised reduced voltage above 221 V and improved power factor from 0.86 to 0.97. Annual kWh reduction and financial savings measured at 76,009 kWh and £5,837 respectively, plus £600 from elimination of reactive-power charges.
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